Grocery inflation · Statistics Canada
How much have grocery prices gone up in Canada?
In September 2026, prices of food bought in stores were 1.7% higher than in September 2025, according to Statistics Canada's Consumer Price Index (released October 19, 2026). Since December 2025, they have risen 0.5%. Compared with September 2020, they are 33.0% higher.
These are Statistics Canada's official figures for all of Canada. They are not the Canadian Grocery Price Index (CGPI), GroceryPulse's licensed weekly series.
Change by food group, September 2026
Over the 12 months to September 2026, the fastest rise among the main groups of food bought in stores was in fish, seafood and other marine products (+4.1%). One main group was cheaper than a year earlier: vegetables and vegetable preparations (−1.5%).
| Food group | Over 12 months | Since December | Since September 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food bought in stores | +1.7% | +0.5% | +33.0% |
| Meat | +3.0% | +1.3% | +39.3% |
| Fish, seafood and other marine products | +4.1% | +0.3% | +19.8% |
| Dairy products and eggs | +1.6% | +1.6% | +27.5% |
| Bakery and cereal products (excluding baby food) | +1.0% | −1.1% | +29.3% |
| Fruit, fruit preparations and nuts | +3.8% | +0.4% | +30.1% |
| Vegetables and vegetable preparations | −1.5% | −3.5% | +24.0% |
| Other food products and non-alcoholic beverages | +1.5% | +1.8% | +41.8% |
Source: Statistics Canada, table 18-10-0004-01, Consumer Price Index, Canada, not seasonally adjusted, released . Changes are computed from the published index levels.
What the shelves show
The Consumer Price Index says how much prices moved, not where food costs less. GroceryPulse collects advertised prices for 50 everyday items at the main chains in 16 cities every week. Our pages show what those items cost now, how each one's price has moved, and which packages got smaller while the price held.
How to read these figures
These indexes are not seasonally adjusted, so from one month to the next they also move with the seasons (fruit and vegetables most). The 12-month change compares the same month a year apart and avoids that; the change since December keeps some of it. The index measures the price of a fixed basket of food, not what a household spends, and it does not say which store is cheapest.
Questions about grocery inflation
How much have grocery prices gone up in Canada?
In September 2026, prices of food bought in stores were 1.7% higher than in September 2025, according to Statistics Canada's Consumer Price Index (released October 19, 2026). Since December 2025, they have risen 0.5%. Compared with September 2020, they are 33.0% higher.
How much have grocery prices gone up this year?
Since December 2025, prices of food bought in stores have risen 0.5% (Statistics Canada, data for September 2026, not seasonally adjusted). Over 12 months the change is +1.7%.
Which grocery prices are rising fastest?
Over the 12 months to September 2026, the fastest rise among the main groups of food bought in stores was in fish, seafood and other marine products (+4.1%). One main group was cheaper than a year earlier: vegetables and vegetable preparations (−1.5%).
Which grocery store is cheapest in Canada right now?
The Consumer Price Index does not compare stores. Our city pages and the Prices across Canada page (grocerypulse.ca/canada) show, with dated prices, which chain had the lowest 50-item example basket in each of 16 cities.